What's the point of TV3?

BaZmO*

Seriously, is there a point to TV3 anymore since they've lost the rights to the Champions League football to Setanta?

It's not as if they show any top quality programmes. All they seem to show is cheap American imports and mirror all the big prime time shows that you get on ITV anyway.

GeorgeBailey

Even when they had the champions league it was awful. I'd rather miss a game than put up with Packie, Trev et al.
As to the point of TV3, I don't really know. Presumably someone watches it otherwise nobody would pay for the advertising. Find the people who like Nanny 911, Judge Judy and "heart-wrenching" true life films and I guess then you'll find the point of it. My guess is that their viewers are not likely to be the brightest people this island has to offer.
The wife likes Coronation Street and Emerdale so I make her watch them on ITV. TV3 and their cheap, lazy programming is to be avoided at all costs.
Still can't understand why they have Arrested Development. Just doesn't fit in with the TV3 profile in any way.

dudara

The main problem I have with TV3 is how they mirror ITV when it comes to reality shows and soaps. Having the same programming on two channels at the same time is incredibly annoying.

Mossy Monk

i hate TV3 as much as the next guy but it must be handy for those who dont have ITV

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Money. Put simply, the aim of the game is to get gullible teenagers and women to text every conseviable phone number to vote/enter competitions.

If you think the station is bad, have you ever actully looked at there teletext...?
Oh.
Dear.
Jesus.

kevmy

The problem with TV3 is the fact that they were tied into ITV and CanWest for so long cos they got programmes on the cheap from them and/or had to take sh1te programme sas part of the deal. Now that they're bought out hopefully they can fulfill some of the ppotential. The only things the really need to keep from ITV are the two soaps as they are the main money spinners. I see they're getting Studio 60 on The Sunset Strip (from Aaron Sorkin, West Wing creator) so i hopr this is a beginning of a shift to competing with RTE for high quality American imports as RTE screws up so much good shows that a bit of competetion could be a good kick up the arse to them.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

kevmy wrote:

... The only things the really need to keep from ITV are the two soaps as they are the main money spinners....

I'm curious about this... do they really make that much money, considering the shows can be viewed on ITV as well...?

Magic Pips

TV3, how many employees, lets guess 150+, thats money being kept in the irish economy. So feel free to watch ITV and put money in the queens pocket (i just use this as a phrase as opposed to it's political connotations).

Also RTE get the lions share of TV lisense fee, leaving them free to outbid TV3 for main events at will.

Now im not sayin they are perfect, but you have to look at everything before judging...

Mossy Monk

Magic Pips wrote:

Also RTE get the lions share of TV lisense fee, leaving them free to outbid TV3 for main events at will

this happens all over the world where tv licences exist. the tv license is no arguement at all

Magic Pips

Mossy Monk wrote:

this happens all over the world where tv licences exist. the tv license is no arguement at all

Find me a place with the same economy, same problem and a much better TV station and i'll edit that out!

tbh

Mossy Monk wrote:

this happens all over the world where tv licences exist. the tv license is no arguement at all

Are RTE not the only station in the world that gets lic. fee AND advertising revenue?

AlexSummers

kevmy wrote:

The problem with TV3 is the fact that they were tied into ITV and CanWest for so long cos they got programmes on the cheap from them and/or had to take sh1te programme sas part of the deal. Now that they're bought out hopefully they can fulfill some of the ppotential. The only things the really need to keep from ITV are the two soaps as they are the main money spinners. I see they're getting Studio 60 on The Sunset Strip (from Aaron Sorkin, West Wing creator) so i hopr this is a beginning of a shift to competing with RTE for high quality American imports as RTE screws up so much good shows that a bit of competetion could be a good kick up the arse to them.

As well as Studio 60 on the sunset Strip which is going to air later this year they have also bought the rights for Jericho a CBS show which is receiving positive reviews in the US. They also paln to air Jericho this year.

Is this a signal that Irish & UK TV channels are following the American style of programming? Sky One are planning to air Bones and Standoff this year as well.

Mossy Monk

tbh wrote:

Are RTE not the only station in the world that gets lic. fee AND advertising revenue?

no RTÉ are not unique

see here

tbh

thanks MM - thought I heard that somewhere, but it looks like Lic + Ads is the norm, rather than the exception.

311

I thought tv3 are not sure whether they will get their hand on ITV soaps anymore ,because itv are looking for more cash .

Mossy Monk

_Brian_ wrote:

I thought tv3 are not sure whether they will get their hand on ITV soaps anymore ,because itv are looking for more cash .

they will be bidding against RTÉ and TG4 if they are interested. maybe Channel 6 will too but i doubt it

EKRIUQ

Ireland Am isn't a bad show considering the crap guests they have on, but that new presenter Sinead Desmond is seriously after sending the show on a downword slope. Where else would a person with no experience and no personality get a job.

Morgans

No kids television, very little sport. I get the impression that even with getting their share of their license fee, I'd still be able to enjoy Emmerdale three times a day, and the omnibus on Saturday, and the best of Ireland AM four times a weekend. Top quality output.

I think they have done nothing to deserve a share of the licence fee.

Magic Pips

Morgans wrote:

No kids television, very little sport. I get the impression that even with getting their share of their license fee, I'd still be able to enjoy Emmerdale three times a day, and the omnibus on Saturday, and the best of Ireland AM four times a weekend. Top quality output.

I think they have done nothing to deserve a share of the licence fee.

I'm trying to give a balanced view here... Champions league last year, with no TV lisense money. Ireland AM, great show for its target market. There are other shows like the Dunphy show , and the gay guy(cant remember his name) show that they would have to finance themselves!

bigger picture folks.

Morgans

I always try to give a balanced view. How many dunphy's shows were there. 8-10 if that. Dunphy wasnt given a lot of support and once Dunphy had his 'last word' friends on, i dont know if they were going to get the guests after that. I thought it was ok.

Personally, I think Ireland AM is one of the worst programs on tv, and I find it hard to believe that it is in any way succesful. I cant see how it is better than any of the english programs (GMTV I suppose) and would drive me to radio. Brendan Courtenay copied Graham Norton and while it wouldnt be my cup of tea, I could see that at least it was an effort on TV3 behalf to win an audience.

yes they had one night of champions league and they do the Eircom league weekly. Apart from that what sport do they do?

This is plenty of opportunity for innovative ideas in tv land. Look at what Tg4 do. I understand that they get money from the licence, but look what they do with it - club football, ladies football, aussie rules, home grown soap, nuacht, amu, kids programming - think I've seen spongebob in Irish - neelo, laochra gael, as well as providing a public service to its small constituency. etc etc. I'd prefer to give money to them, and away from RTE, than give it to TV3, who do more damage to the public than anything. IMVHO.

TV3 appear to take the easy way out, put on countless repeats, decommissioned comedies, and whine that the reason it is so poor is due to the lack of a licence fee. The worst thing that could happen to them is getting the licence fee as they would have someone to answer for the rubbish they put on.

All this on the day that they put Arrested Development back on. Its a shame that it cant save them. Does the TV3 News still have a phone number asking for people to ring them with news stories? Classy. I understand they are strapped for cash, and are flying by the seat of their pants out there, but even looking at Channel 6, new startup channel, but manages to have popular programmes on for the most part.

TV3 is to broadcasting, what the metro is to newspapers. It doesnt matter whats in it, just keep the operation running. How many people would read the metro if they had to pay for it.

Mossy Monk

Ireland AM only exists to fulfill the home made programming quota

Magic Pips

Mossy Monk wrote:

Ireland AM only exists to fulfill the home made programming quota

Yes it would help fulfill their quota, It also captures a decent rating for housewives etc!

On quotas... surely RTE should be restricted to broadcast public service programmes only?

I dont love TV3 by the way... just reckon people should open their eyes to the reality and commercials of business

Mossy Monk

Magic Pips wrote:

surely RTE should be restricted to broadcast public service programmes only?

and then the public complain about the lack of non public service programming

Magic Pips

haha... yup its true! Sure this thread is proof that people will moan regardless!

Sure its fun to have a bit of banter and point things out/learn new things!

kevmy

Ikky Poo2 wrote:

I'm curious about this... do they really make that much money, considering the shows can be viewed on ITV as well...?

Well they have the highest audience on TV3 and easily outscores the ITV equivalent. Remember there are plenty of people out there with only 4 channels. Also people will nearly always watch an Irish channel as opposed to an English one.


And as far as i know TV3 made money in the last couple of years and will have more money now due to the fact that they have been bought out by a private equity group.

There is a lot of potential in TV3 in the 18-35 age group for entertainment style programming. RTE2 just isn't doing what its supposed to. TV3 won't be able to compete with RTE for current affairs or sport and are right not to try. A couple of decent American dramas, comedies and teen programmes like the OC, throw in a bit of controversy and a few decent films and it could be a good station.

Morgans

Its no secret that ITV are struggling - never hear them whine about the tv licence - and OK I think TV3 is crap now and the buyout gives them scope for improvement. It could be the best thing that happens to them if they are forced to come up with ideas for primetime. However, getting hollyoaks doesnt look like they are going to go about it the right way. You would think that some of the programs that TG4 have on - CYE, the OC, - could be in their price range. I do remember TV3 showing the likes of Family Guy, Seinfeld before. It seems these are axed or shoved to desperate timeslots as the soaps dominate. There are plenty of quality programs available for syndication that RTE dont pick up, (Remember the weakest link, not quality but popular) but TV3 appears to want cheap reality TV, cheap imitations of hit programs like Supernanny etc. Nothing appears to work on the channel apart from the soaps. Didnt RTE announce a new morning program - TV equivalent of Morning Ireland I think. It will be interesting to see if Ireland AM holds its audience.

Why no kids programming? Why no nature programming? Surely cheap as chips. WHy no class?

Bob the Builder

well, in all fairness to TV3, they aren't employing boring people for €900,000 a year...they deserve a share so they could improve the service...

Look at RTÉ, they're swimming in money and should be showing better programmes for that license fee....

TV3 also survive completely off advertising, RTÉ charge more for advertising* and hand over only 5% to TG4*

I'm just putting financial issues into perpective

Morgans

they aren't employing boring people for €900,000 a year

I think that is a very fair point. RTE has problems, but I cant think of any series that is worth watching that cant be watched on RTE or TG4. I'd like to know what are the better programs that RTE dont show. Not only are they pitching in their for the popular series (lost, prison break, desperate housewives, the soparanos, the west wing, 24) I think it does very well to be honest. This on top of sport, current affiars, news, kids programming. Arrested Development perhaps.

The likes of Gerry Ryan Pat Kenny, Derek Mooney etc are a waste of taxpayers moeny no doubt about it, and should be put out to pasture, (yesterday's Ireland) but I do think the licence fee does go towards the radio channels, two symphonies. So, its not exactly a like for like comparison. If TV3 showed any indication that they would do better with my money, I'd be willing to pass it on, but my guess it would go into buying some more shows that were cancelled in the states, or some ho-hum soap from england.

MiniMetro

TV3 sums up what's wrong with Ireland today. Ireland AM is one of the most unbelievably god awful shows ever conceived. The Brendan Courtney show was so horrible that it actually made me want to leave the country and never comes back.

In fairness to TV3, although they are truly inept in every way, it is more a societal problem. For instance if you watch the Late Late Show now, they bring on a quadruple noble prize winner who has brought about world peace and they are treated to some disinterested applause but bring on the barmaid from Emmerdale and the crowd will collectively cream themselves with excitement. Then they bring on their most interesting guest in many moons(paedo guy) and the whole country is up in arms.

Ridiculous country.

Morgans

Didnt see the late late last week but well said. MiniMetro.

The idiots are winning.

cashback

kevmy wrote:

Remember there are plenty of people out there with only 4 channels.

Yeah, like me!
Although to be honest, I would always check TG4 before TV3.
Watching TV3 is depressing sometimes. Putting crap like All Saints on in a prime-time spot (8pm). Think of all those middle of the road american imports TV3 shows; Judging Amy, Crossing Jordan, The Guardian, Las Vegas. All desperately average.
And why is it every time I turn on TV3, Bad Girls is on. Awful stuff.
The News is brutal. Loads of entertainment news and the stupid '...and finally' story coming from somewhere in backwoods America. Why is there a half hour bulletin at 5.30 and another half an hour later?
Since the Champions League is gone, all I'll watch on it is Arrested Development. Then there's prat who feels the need to comment on every programme just over, eg. "Let's hope George Michael is in better shape for next week's Arrested Development at 10.30." Or something to that effect.

Anyway, That's enough for now!

irishcsifan

Am i the only one dosen't think tv3 is stupid. OMG look at RTE and their stupid scheduling before you judge tv3. they show show plenty of good programmes and at least tell will show the programme unlike rte whe the show just dissappears. i even rather have them show show csi because at least they'd show it.

emeraldstar

the point of TV3 for me is Emmerdale, Will & Grace and Malcolm in the Middle. Love em!! And on a slightly lesser scale, Coronation Street. I'm not too concerned about anything else they show. Hate Bad Girls, Judge Judy, All Saints, etc etc and I especially hate all the crappy, made-for-tv movies that they show.

Cork

irishcsifan wrote:

Am i the only one dosen't think tv3 is stupid. OMG look at RTE and their stupid scheduling before you judge tv3. they show show plenty of good programmes and at least tell will show the programme unlike rte whe the show just dissappears. i even rather have them show show csi because at least they'd show it.

TV3 have Law & Order SVU Monday's at 10pm.

RTE have law & Order all over the place.

TV3 have far better scheduling.

Do all RTE's "Stars" take the Summer off?

Elmo

TV3 have Law & Order SVU Monday's at 10pm.

I can agree with that however you can be sure that TV3 don't take Law And Order SVU off the air when they don't have a new season to watch. Surely they have other shows that could replace L&O and they always show the one add for it so you don't know weather or not its a new season.

But RTE scheduling of L&O and CSI is very bad, which I have mentioned before. andrewfitzpatrick@rte.ie come email him about it. AHHHHHHHHH.

Do all RTE's "Stars" take the Summer off?

Who are TV3's stars. TV3 have completely let down anyone who want to become a TV presenter, actor, producer etc.

They lack the imagination to actually compete with RTE and lets face it its not like RTE has very much imagination.

And with over 50,000,000 in advertising revenue (and no need to support TG4, TnaG, RTE Music, Lyric FM) TV3 have plenty of money to provide Irish sporting coverage and Irish Soap and other Irish PRIME TIME shows.

Think about it TG4 spends 3million on sports each year and TV3 have never even approached the GAA about getting any league or all Ireland matches RTE up until Setanta entered the market had no competition over GAA rights.

Now TG4 and Setanta have delayed rights to GAA finals and rights to GAA highlights shows. TV3 have Sports Tonight.

TG4 spend 4million on Ros Na Run each year surely TV3 could provide such a Soap.

Don't let TV3 make their situation sound bad, its not bad they make plenty of money and spend little in Ireland. They spend 6million euro on their Irish output. Remember TV3 is supposed to be for the 15 -45 year old age group is Irealand AM their target market?

Mathew Salway (Head of Programming TV3) points out that TV3 can provide ITV with a better deal for Coro St after all TV3 will always look for all the other ITV realted shows such as Emmerdale and the reality shows, RTE would only look for Coronation Street. He also plans to have one Reality TV show on at least every month. Oh the joys.

superdudeman007

Most of the stuff on TV3 is a simulcast of ITV's stuff but at least it's up to date.

RTE1 are showing 5 year old episodes of the Bill every day between Nuacht RTE and RTE News.

Elmo

Most of the stuff on TV3 is a simulcast of ITV's stuff but at least it's up to date.

RTE1 are showing 5 year old episodes of the Bill every day between Nuacht RTE and RTE News.

Neither RTE nor TV3 have been set up to simulcast any british programme. Especially The Bill whatever about Coronation St, Emmers, The Royal, EastEnders etc.

Morgans

I glanced through the schedules this morning and I think before a film that started about 4pm, tv3 showed nothing but repeats. Please correct me if I am wrong but I know for sure that there was

The best of Ireland AM - shown throughout the week, and the best of first shown on Saturday morning and possibly saturday night

X Factor - shown last night

Last years American Idol

Last years American Idol judgement

LAst weeks Coronation St - Omnibus

Last night's Saturday Night Take away.

I think there was a film on at about 4.

Mystic River is on tonight which is a plus for TV3 but god knows how they would have to cut the corners to show something like the All Ireland Final or even Racing from the Curragh (any sport in fact)

Luckily for those who missed the best of ireland AM, during the week, yesterday morning, possibly last night, or this morning, its on again tonight at 1.45. Just after the week in review - in case you missed the news throughout the week.

Magic stuff all in all

Elmo

Mystic River is on tonight which is a plus for TV3 but god knows how they would have to cut the corners to show something like the All Ireland Final or even Racing from the Curragh (any sport in fact)

I am not suggesting that TV3 go straight for The All Ireland. How many corners do they cut by not showing such events.

TV3 could if they want buy Ladies GAA, Celtic League Rugby, Eircom League Live Games and other sporting events that TG4 have shown over the last 10 years, which they provide on a fraction of the budget that RTE or Setanta have.

TV3 never even approached the GAA or the IRFU for sporting rights. The rugby world cup brings rugby to TV3 for the first time ever, they have been in the country for nearly 10 years.

TG4 get from 80,000 to 125,000 veiwers for their live sports, TV3 could easily double this figure, as those sports would be supported by the strong ITV shows available on TV3.

TV3 lack the imagination and the skills needed to see what an easy oppertunity they have been given to provide something alternative and different. They need no Defenders.

Mossy Monk

superdudeman007 wrote:

RTE1 are showing 5 year old episodes of the Bill every day between Nuacht RTE and RTE News.

is this a bad thing? would you like everything to be a simulcast?

311

Sorry for butting in on the tv forum ,but something always bugs me about TV3 when they show a good film .
They seem to plaster it with adds ,more so than any other station.
I don't bother watching films on it anymore because of the amount of adds.
Is it just my imagination ,or have things changed?

byte

Since they solely rely on adverts and sponsored programming, then they do show more adverts than the likes of RTE.

AFAIK, they are allowed longer advert breaks than RTE though I'm open to correction on that.

tbh

is it me or does the sound tend to jump up when they go to an ad break?

BaZmO*

tbh wrote:

is it me or does the sound tend to jump up when they go to an ad break?

No it's not just you, I jump up and down at ad breaks too. Dunno why though!

Our man in Havana

Mossy Monk wrote:

is this a bad thing? would you like everything to be a simulcast?

Well they could start Simsubbing. Forcing cable operators to black out ITV when TV3 is showing the same show.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simsub

Mossy Monk

simsubbing would only lessen the choice. TV channels showing the same thing at the same time is pointless

kevmy

Cork wrote:

TV3 have Law & Order SVU Monday's at 10pm.

RTE have law & Order all over the place.

TV3 have far better scheduling

This is my poiint TV3 are in a fantastic position because the don't have to put in x amount of public service or show certain programmes that RTE have to. There scheduling is better but RTE can get away with fcuking about cause there stuff is generally of much higher quality and usually new and not repeats.
TV3 have no imagination and worse seemingly no ambition to move above the lowest common denominator.
For example imagine what the guys running TG4 would do if they were in charge of TV3. No irish and loads more money and a bit of brainpower

Wheels

Elmo wrote:

Who are TV3's stars. TV3 have completely let down anyone who want to become a TV presenter, actor, producer etc.

Excellent point. They've done nothing for the Irish Indies in the past few years. All of their home grown content is in-house and their last major prime time show (The Brendan Courtney Show) was Green Inc. a Belfast based company that doesn't even have full time offices in Dublin. And their next major production, the box is produced by Lion, a London company that opperates soley in the UK and seems to be only using the TV3 version of the show to boost their format.

The point is, if TV3 wanted a reality show, then why not put it out to tender? Hold meetings and allow Irish indies to pitch. It's not as if the ideas aren't there, there are so many great indies out there but they are too restricted by RTE's ridget bi-annual demands for submissions. They try and work their idea around what RTE think they need and often it gets diluted and lost.

They're schedualing is good in the sense that you can follow a programme from show one to the end, but it's full of tripe and obvious fillers. How are they meant to fight RTE with any original programming when they have no experience in making it??

superdudeman007

byte wrote:

AFAIK, they are allowed longer advert breaks than RTE though I'm open to correction on that.

Yeah RTE aren't allowed to make any more from advertising than they do from their share of the license fee, but TV3 can show as many ads as they want as long as they provide 8 hours (I think) of programmes per weekday. That's why there are so many news/sports shows on TV3.

Ireland AM - I think it's 4 hours - 6am - 10am. That's half their quota for the day.
3x Half hour news bulletins - 5.30 and 6.30 make up another hour, even though it's the same thing twice. Then there's News Tonight and Sports Tonight. That's another 2 hours.
2 hours of ITV importsThe soaps etc must make up another 2 hours.

^ ^ as long as they do all that, the rest can be whatever they want. That's how they get away with showing infomercials late at night.

Elmo

2 hours of ITV importsThe soaps etc must make up another 2 hours.

They don't have to have 2 hours of ITV Television. They must however have a certain amount coming from Europe which they provide through the ITV soap, allowing them make their quota for the EU's Television Without Frontiers Directive.

Yeah RTE aren't allowed to make any more from advertising than they do from their share of the license fee

Across all divisions of RTE (Publishing, Television and Radio), RTE have made more money on Commercial Revenue then on the Licence Fee.

RTE and TG4 are only allowed to show 7mins of Adds per hour on Average, while TV3, Setanta and C6 can show 9mins of adds on average per hour. TV3 want to see this increased to 12mins of adds on average per hour. The on average part of that means that they can load on the adds during their most popular shows, you will see that happen on all channels.

superdudeman007

So how do TV3 get away with showing those infomercials after closedown?

(We've all seen it somehow - The V Slicer, The Power Juicer, The Thigh Trainer, etc.)

BTW :

The amount RTE make from the license fee has to be equal to or greater than money raised by RTE One, RTE Two, Radio 1, Lyric FM and RnaG combined. TG4 doesn't count because it's fully state owned and 2FM doesn't because it doesn't get a share of the license fee - thats why 2fm always have a hamper from Company X to give away on every single show.